Two Lassen County men found guilty of poaching deer

Two men were sentenced last month for deer poaching violations in Lassen County following an investigation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Timothy Lee McCallister, 45, of Susanville, pleaded guilty to five of eight charges filed against him, and Paden Earl Child, 23, of Herlong, pleaded guilty to two charges.

McCallister pleaded guilty to unlawful take of deer, possession of unlawfully taken deer, take of deer without deer tag, take of deer without hunting license and unlawful take of deer over baited area. He was fined more than $5,000, sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of probation during which time he may not hunt or fish.

Child pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful take and unlawful possession of deer. He was fined more than $1,000 and sentenced to two years probation during which time he may not hunt or fish. The sentencing took place Feb. 4.

In early December 2011, Warden Nick Buckler received information regarding potential deer poaching activity around Susanville. Upon arrival, Buckler observed evidence of systematic deer poaching, including a large area baited with cracked corn and fresh blood and deer tracks. A blood trail from the baited area led past two neighboring residences and ended with one large pool of blood at a third neighbor’s driveway.

Buckler also located drag marks leading to McCallister’s residence. There was a live, unexpended .22 short caliber round of ammunition and numerous deer hairs in the drag mark.

During a search of the residence, officers located a freshly killed mule deer buck butchered into quarters, .22 caliber short ammunition loaded in a rifle, multiple fresh deer legs, two deer rib cages, 38 additional packages of deer meat in the freezer, and additional information detailing how McCallister and Child had killed the most recent buck.

Buckler sent samples of the deer parts and packages to the state Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, which determined the samples came from five mule deer: three bucks and two does.

Buckler thanked the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office and the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance. He also thanked the citizens of Lassen County who reported the poaching to the CalTIP hotline.